VSU volunteers ready to serve

COLDWATER — Beginning in September, teams of volunteers will be ready to aid local citizens on what could be the worst days of their lives.

After three days of training, 24 volunteers were qualified to begin with the Branch County Sheriff's Office Victim Services Unit, the 58th such unit under a program that was started 14 years ago by the Michigan Sheriff's Association.

"With so few deputies to both police a scene and care for the victims, the Victim Services Unit members will now fill the role of caregiver," said Branch County Sheriff John Pollack. "They will be responsible for providing care, information and resources to the victims."

A pair of volunteers will be on call for a week with another pair on back-up for all major crimes, disasters or major accidents with all serving on a rotational basis.

Undersheriff Keith Eichler said the unit will be available not only to aid the BCSO, but other local law enforcement agencies as well.

Pollack and the Rev. Harold Jewell have been working for nearly a year to create the unit. The 24 volunteers were selected and had to undergo background checks. MSA trainers Phil Marcil and Kam Bradman led the program, which brought in local law enforcement to explain crime scenes, traffic investigations, dive recoveries, the medical examiner, the court system and how 911 central dispatch works.

More importantly, professionals were brought in to talk about and help victims learn to plan for suicide calls, critical incident stress management, bereavement, funeral arrangements, death notifications, spiritual help and just listening.

"Knowing victims will not be left without any kind of support will relieve the investigating deputy to concentrate on their investigation," Pollack said.

The sheriff said a recent hostage situation pointed to the critical need for the VSU. While law enforcement concentrated on getting a gunman to give up from inside the Lions’ the store manager was being held inside the store — and her parents were left nearby with no one to let them know what was going on. The VSU would fulfill this role.

VSU teams will accompany law enforcement when families are notified of deaths and be able to stay and help them cope.

Local hospice worker Brenee Moore suggested each unit should develop its own sources of information. She suggested at times survivors are lost as to how to begin to plan for funeral arrangements and what official processes to expect.

Jackie Harris and her husband Keith volunteered after they saw the announcement for unit training on the sheriff’s Facebook page. Already the couple train and provide tracking dogs to aid law enforcement in Michigan.

"We talked about it and we decided (volunteering for VSU) would be rewarding in its own special way. I want to be there for somebody on their worst day," Keith said. "We have always been caring people. It's something we can do together and would be gratifying."

Page 2 of 2 - Retired Undersheriff Jim Jeffrey, who spent 27 years with the department, joined the VSU.

"I’ve got the time for it. I need a little more stuff to do being retired," he said.